Days fell into a rhythm for Nikulas. Morning guard change brought a fresh bucket of water and two rabbits for him. Then the visitors started filing through. Fear of him had disappeared, replaced by curiosity. The steady stream of gawkers seemed endless. They shuffled in, stared at him for a few minutes, before being shuffled out again to let the next group in.

After a few hours, they paused for a guard change. A servant flung a third rabbit at him, and once he’d eaten, the stream of townsfolk resumed. They continued until the evening guard change, after which he was left in peace, except for the guards. And the lady who had captured him.

Most evenings, the spiky-haired lady sat across from him, reading papers, complaining about things he didn’t understand, or talking through solutions to problems he’d never considered.

Nikulas sighed. This wasn’t how he’d planned to spend his time outside the valley, but he enjoyed her company. And with visitors came the chance to resume his search for Birgith. He knew it would be unlikely she’d be in this town or would visit from beyond with this Clan Council the Fox Leader kept speaking of.

But if she knew who she was, and heard a dragon was captured, she’d try to help him, wouldn’t she? Having never met her, who knew what she was like. Still he held onto hope. Even if Birgith didn’t believe the rumours and returned to the valley, she’d realise the dragon was him and lead Vincenc and Artur on an expedition to rescue him, right?

Stop thinking about that. If he was going to get free, he’d more likely find a way himself. He stretched his wings out as far as he could, grazing the walls on either side. It was enough to let his wings feel some air, but he longed to feel the wind under them.

The lady arrived, holding a small inlaid wooden casket, and dismissed the guards to the outer room. She took her customary place on the floor beside the door and began searching through the chest. She set aside a box from within it, and rifled through the papers and other objects inside.

Nikulas studied her.

Her shawl slipped off her shoulder as she searched. “It should be here. Why isn’t it here?”

Nikulas edged closer. He recognised the feeling emanating from it, but couldn’t place where he’d felt the same before. He stretched his head as far as it could go, his nose still a span away.

She looked up at him. “You’re interested in helping me search, are you?” She held the casket so he could see inside. “There should be a large iron key in here. But it’s nowhere to be found.”

The old parchments meant little to Nikulas, but there was no key inside the casket.

“I know it was there when my father handed this to me four summers ago. No one should have opened it since. We haven’t needed any of this stuff. The clan has functioned fine without consulting any of it. Thank the seasons. But it can’t have just disappeared.” She sighed, slumping over the casket. “I don’t understand where it can have gone. Or why anyone would want it?”

Nikulas turned his attention back to the wooden box on the floor.

“It’s only ceremonial. There isn’t a lock it fits, so it doesn’t open some secret room, or anything. You can’t use it to claim leadership of the clan. There’s no secret ceremony associated with it, so it’s just an old key. I don’t even know why we keep it, or care about it so much.” She dropped her head in her hands. “Ugh. Yet, if I can’t show it when I’m asked, there will be a big problem as it will bring my leadership into question. But why? It’s just a stupid old key.”

At the extent of his chain, Nikulas couldn’t reach her, or the boxes. A strange feeling stirred inside him, a desire to comfort her. He wanted her to rely on him, to lean on him, to trust him. But that was foolish. How could she do that when she saw him as a beast?

He sighed, his exhalation stirring the papers.

She laughed. “You’re right. There isn’t much I can do right now. Hopefully, no one will ever discover it’s missing. No one has asked to see it so far. Let’s hope they never do. At least not until I’ve found where it’s gone.” She pulled the shawl higher round her.

Something warmed Nikulas to be sitting here with her, even though he didn’t know her name. Would he ever find out?

“I should tell my council, but I don’t trust them not to use the knowledge against me. And they’d have a fit to hear I’m sitting here talking to you about it.” She shook her head. “Promise me you won’t tell them?”

Nikulas stared at her. Who were her council? And how would he tell them? He’d rather punish them for working against her.

“Of course you won’t. How could you?” She gathered everything into the casket again, clicking the lid closed.

He settled his nose on his forelegs, preparing to sleep.

Standing, she looked round the room. “Winter’s closing in. Soon the passes will close until spring. Should I give you something to keep you warm? Or do you not need it?” She studied him. “How will I know?”

Nikulas cocked his head to one side. Was she really considering making things more comfortable for him? What would she offer? Blankets? Straw? A fire? The possibility of anything boggled his mind.

“I’ll consider what we can do.” She grimaced. “Though it will need to wait until after the Congress.” She pointed her finger at him. “You need to be on your best behaviour when the other Clan Leaders visit.”

Nikulas snorted. Of course he would be. Whoever these leaders were, or who they thought they led. Not that he had much choice. At least they looked after him. Something warm to lie on and he’d almost feel at home. The constant guards and chain round his neck were proof he wasn’t. But she could be treating him a lot worse. Not that his mother would ever know that.

A wisp of nostalgia threaded through him. How he wished he could go back and tell himself not to leave the valley. Instead, he’d have to live with a promise of straw and the scent of snow coming in on the breeze from outside.

The next day started as every other. A change of guards, rabbits to eat, fresh water, and visitors gawking at him. Nikulas settled down to nap while they did so. None of them dared get close enough to bother him, and the guards stopped any who tried. Nikulas conserved his energy for when he might need it.

It was almost time for the stream of visitors to stop when he felt it. A tingling in his spine, spreading through him. An itch he couldn’t scratch. A sense he wasn’t doing what he should be.

Nikulas froze, using his senses to scan those standing near him. What was different?

There, a girl with auburn hair plaited behind her head, stood with a young man. Could it be?

Nikulas trembled. He inhaled, trying to separate her scent from that of everyone else. It had to be. It couldn’t be anyone else. Something deep inside him recognised her.

She edged closer. Her whole body tensed, one hand outstretched towards him.

Nikulas flicked his tail, caressing the end of her boot. By the look on her face, she recognised him too. She had come looking for him. For them.

She stepped back, discreetly rubbing tears from her eyes.

Her companion started talking, but Nikulas paid no attention to the words. He tucked his tail under his chin, content with the knowledge he’d found his sister at last.

A quick blink, and his gaze locked on hers. He burnt that picture into his memory. To give him the reason to keep going, for however long he remained here.

His impatience had bourne fruit. This had to be the reason there were three of them. Now she could go to the valley, where Artur and Vincenc could perform their roles as brother-guards. His would be the sacrifice to reunite the others.

CHECK OUT BOOK 1: DRAGON SHIFT TO FOLLOW BIRGITH'S STORY.